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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsChris Kluwe: Calling Gay Football Player A 'Distraction' Is Code For Intolerance
"One thing I thought was really interesting was the very word 'distraction,'" Kluwe said in an interview with the Huffington Post. "You see that used a lot by the front office and coaching. It's very similar to how the word 'thug' was used when Richard Sherman was the topic of conversation. It seems that this word distraction is code for, I don't really like the idea of a gay player on my team, but I know I can't come out and say that, so I'll use the word 'distraction' instead."
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Kluwe, an outspoken LGBT ally himself who alleged last month that his activism for same-sex marriage led to his release from the Minnesota Vikings, told the Huffington Post it would be difficult for Sam to prove if he was being discriminated against in the NFL draft because of his sexual orientation.
"Most of them are smart enough not to put anything down in writing where you have an email chain or something like that," he said. "It would just be, 'Hey, this guy could be considered a distraction.' Or, 'Have you heard about this Michael Sam kid? Is his character there?' It's very much code-word type stuff."
TPM
I hope Kluwe gets another job this year. He was a decent punter.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)We're talking about Missouri... not a hot bed of tolerance.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)of the SEC. Some "distraction"!
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)However he had an above "decent" salary. This is why no team wants him.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)His salary = 0$ now so a team can sign him for whatever they want.
dsc
(52,160 posts)Under NFL rules he couldn't be offered below a certain level before, his one year layoff may make a difference though.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)That minimum salary also goes up for people who've played for a while.
So NFL teams can sign a young punter for less money than what Kluwe would make.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)Rookie this year makes $420,000
Of course NFL teams can sign young punters and save money but only Belicheck does that.
dsc
(52,160 posts)because there is also a salary cap meaning that a team, no matter how rich, can only spend so much on salaries.
Capt. Obvious
(9,002 posts)If you're a veteran punter who is good, you're going to have a job for a long time - typically with the same team. The stability of kickers is valued.
Patriots cut their punter (at the end of his rookie deal) and brought in a rookie to save about $200K - the cut punter was on the street maybe a day as he was a good punter.